Only having one hen lay eggs

[orfan40]

Hello all. We got into being Chicken Chicks in February. We got two chicks who are now 21 weeks old. One is a Barred Rock and is the one laying eggs. She has now for about two weeks daily. The other one is, we think, an Americauna. She is a relatively smaller bird than the BR. The other two we got 18 weeks ago. One is a Rhode Island Red and the other is a New Hampshire Red. Each group was started separately and integrated when the Reds were from 8 to 10 weeks old. Each pair 'had' their own coops. We had bought a coop from Home Depot which stated it was for from 2 to 4 chickens but we soon decided that is was way too small for the four so we built another. Each pair used them accordingly and basically took ownership until the BR started laying her eggs. Btw, she is the head of the pecking order. They are in an area that is approximately 8' by 20' and get out in the yard at least an hour a day to pick around in the grass and capture bugs. Anyway, the second coop is larger than the first and the BR took up the space we had for nesting as her egg laying space. Now, we have deduced that they all sleep in the smaller coop with the other as the nesting for the BR. My question is does anyone think that the others aren't laying because they feel they don't have anywhere to nest and lay them or do you think they'll start laying at some point? I'll add a few more points as I begin to receive thoughts. Thank you to all who give their expertise.

 

[Top Rooster]

She must have just payed early most birds don't start laying by 5 or 6 months. Are the others squatting when you come to them? Are their combs and wattles red?

 

[aart]

My question is does anyone think that the others aren't laying because they feel they don't have anywhere to nest and lay them or do you think they'll start laying at some point?

Yes, I do. 18-26 weeks is average onset of lay for most breeds.
Tho the 2 too small coops can cause problems as they do all like to roost(sleep) together.
You might seriously consider a larger coop that will fit all of them before winter hits.
I assume all of Colorado gets a good bit of snow, that setup is going to be nightmare with much snowfall at all.

Oh, and, Welcome to BYC!

 

[orfan40]

She must have just payed early most birds don't start laying by 5 or 6 months. Are the others squatting when you come to them? Are their combs and wattles red?

The Americauna's comb and wattle is red. The Red's are just now starting to come out of their heads and turning red. And the one that is laying does squat when you reach for her. Here I was thinking she just wanted me to pet her... The others are kind of starting to do that.

 

[orfan40]

Yes, I do. 18-26 weeks is average onset of lay for most breeds.
Tho the 2 too small coops can cause problems as they do all like to roost(sleep) together.
You might seriously consider a larger coop that will fit all of them before winter hits.
I assume all of Colorado gets a good bit of snow, that setup is going to be nightmare with much snowfall at all.

Oh, and, Welcome to BYC!

Thanks for the welcome! The one we built is twice as big as the other and I expanded a portion of the Home Depot coop a little. Soo, do you think they may use the small one to sleep and the other to lay? We do get some snow here in the eastern plains but the past few years haven't given us much. Lived here all my life so I don't think it will be too bad although we are somewhat older...

 

[aart]

Thanks for the welcome! The one we built is twice as big as the other and I expanded a portion of the Home Depot coop a little. Soo, do you think they may use the small one to sleep and the other to lay? We do get some snow here in the eastern plains but the past few years haven't given us much. Lived here all my life so I don't think it will be too bad although we are somewhat older...

Not sure, where are they all sleeping now?
Is the 'small one' the raised white one to the left or the one with the green roof?
Is there even a nest in the green roofed on?
Both look too small for 4 birds, not much (if any) ventilation, and hard to work with.
Biggest concern is the net over the area, looks like a snow grabber, might not take much to bring it down.

 

[orfan40]

Not sure, where are they all sleeping now?
Is the 'small one' the raised white one to the left or the one with the green roof?
Is there even a nest in the green roofed on?
Both look too small for 4 birds, not much (if any) ventilation, and hard to work with.
Biggest concern is the net over the area, looks like a snow grabber, might not take much to bring it down.

"Is the 'small one' the raised white one to the left or the one with the green roof?"
The raised one. It's 2' wide, 38" long and 20" high (with a slope on the end portion). It has a nest area on the end part with two roost bars across the larger part of the coop. There's a vent on the side. They all are now sleeping in that one. The other one is 2' wide, 4' long and 30" high. It has a nest area on one end with a roost bar on the other. There are vents on each end and we block up the lid about an inch by a couple of boards for air coming from there. The netting is cargo netting used for shipping and is pretty sturdily hung up there. We had to do that as we discovered there was a hawk's nest (2 adults and 3 fledglings at this time) in the neighbors tree about the time we were getting ready to let our little babies have some outside time when they were younger. We actually lost a chick in the beginning and don't want to face that again. Upon thinking about it I understand how it could get weighted down with moisture so will watch for that and try to come up with more support come winter time.

 

[aart]

Great explanations, thanks!
Yeah, both coops are sized for more for like 2 birds,
but might work out if they are getting along ok.
They probably sleep in the white one because it's higher than the other.
Understand about the netting against hawks,
you'll just have to be prepared to prop it up if needed.